Display support



Feb. 6, G. R FLORA DISPLAY SUPPORT Filed Jan. 2l, 1933 HMMMK,

Patented Feb. 6, 1934 Laaste P fla.

DISPLAY George R. Flora, Marion,

Arro Expansion Bolt a corporation Application January 21,

9 Claims.

The device represented by the present invention has to do especially with means for supporting display devices, suchas advertising signs o r the like, more especially Where the display is to be supported on a wall or similar part of a building structure.

These displays are frequently in the nature of enameled signs, especially where the display is of a character such as is employed, for instance, at lling stations and similar locations. These display signs require in many instances frequent removal for replacement, and devices for securing the displays in position are frequently of such type that the removal thereof is attended with alikelihood of injury to the finish `of the sign, orvto the nish ofthe frame in which the sign is customarily mounted.

It is difficult, frequently, to place these signs in position, owing to the fact that considerable handling is often necessary in order to properly insert the necessary sign supporting instrumentalities into the Wall, for securing the sign in its position. In this connection, it may be mentioned that it is frequently customary to employ fastening instrumentalities such as hooks, or the like, which are first driven into the wall to the depth required to bear the weight of the sign,.and are then bent over the edge of the sign or the frame in which the sign is usually mounted. It is apparent that a considerable amount of handling is required to position the sign in this manner, and where the sign is large, the placement, or removal, thereof frequently requires the services of more than one attendant.

Furthermore, when signs installed as indicated above are to be removed, it is frequently necessary to employ a tool to release the fastening instrumentalities suiciently to permit removal of the sign; and this releasing action has to be accomplished by inserting a tool between the bent part of the fastening instrumentalities and the surface of the sign, and then exerting force thereupon suflicient to release the securing instrumentalities to enable thersign to be removed; which action renders likely damage to the finish of the sign or mounting frame, especially Where the finish is of a rather delicate nature, as for instance, an enamelled surface. Such damage naturally detracts from the appearance of the sign, or renders it beyond the possibility of reuse.

The present invention deals, specifically, with improved mounting instrumentalities for displays, such as signs and the like, which instrumentalities greatly facilitate the placement of SUPPORT Ohio, assigner to The Company, Marion, Ohio,

1933. Serial N0. 652,956 (Cl. l0-125) the sign, and which enable without likelihood of damage.

More specifically, the improved mounting instrumentalities of this invention include a novel form of clamping device which may be readily applied to the sign by a single operator, the device being freely adjustable to any predetermined position relative to the sign, and which is self aligning relative to the sign in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

For accomplishing these, and other, desired objects, the invention provides a clamping device in the nature of a sleeve which is positioned around a supporting member, which, in turn, is adapted to be driven or otherwise inserted into a wall or other backing structure for the display. The sleeve-like clamping device is freely turnable on the supporting'rnember, which may be a screw, bolt, nail, or any equivalent instrumentality, and the clamping device is provided with transversely extending horizontal and vertical flanges, the former being adapted to lie flatly against the edge of the sign or its frame, while the latter is adapted to overlap the said edge, the former flange therefore firmly supporting the sign, while the latter clamps the sign against` the wall or backing structure, upon completion of the insertion o f the supporting device therein. The free turning of the clamp enables it to engage the display in any predetermined position of adjustment, there being also provided means whereby the clamp is rendered self-adjusting in the other direction as well.

When it is'desired to remove the sign, no contact with any portion of the surface thereof with an operating tool is required, the supporting or fastening device being loosened sufficiently to allow enough play between the clamping device and the sign to enable the latter to be removed. Furthermore, theV clamping flange is of such shape-that cushioning means may be inserted between the clamping flange and the edge of the display which this ange overlaps.

The advantages of the present device over devices proposed in the prior art for similar uses include, therefore, increasing the facility with which displays, such for example, as metal signs, may be installed in place and removed therefrom; the adaptability of the device for use in connection with any desired supporting or fastening instrumentalities; the self-adjusting feature, whereby the device may be applied to a sign in any desired position of adjustment, the device aligning itself to the sign and clamping it properly in place; and the adaptability of the ready removal thereof Y n or peeling of the porcelain from the steel. Thisinvention obviates this disadvantage.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing-,fin

which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the complete device as assembled.

Figure 2 is a front end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional vvievv taken onv the lin'ef 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cusl'lioriing-- device employed in connection with the device of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure-3, but showing the cushioning device of Figure 4 in position.

Figure is a fragmentary front view showing themanner of applying the device to a display, for securing the-latter in position on a Wall or equivalent support.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the device in use, the display and supportingstructure therefor being shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the'concrete Wall construction to which theA display is attached is Ashown somewhat fragmentarily, andfis referred to bythe reference ,character A, the display itself being indicated at B.

For securing the display in position on itsY support, there is provided a memberv including two mating portions 1 and 2, forming, in effect, a split cylinder both portions of which are provided on their outer surfaces with ribs 3, Which are designed to biteV or engage Vvvith the concrete surrounding the bolt 4, which is threaded as indicated at 5Y and which is adapted to extend through the internally threaded bore defined by the; parts 1 and 2. The construction of this threaded bolt and mating parts is desirably similar to that illustrated and describedin the patent to Flora, No. 1,801,147, April 14, 1931.

This invention, however, adds to the aforesaid patented construction in that the bolt'4 is made longer in order to receive between thehead 6 thereof and the mating parts 1 and 2, the display supportingV clamping member 7 which, as will be clearly seen from the' drawing', embraces a sleeve adapted to'fit over a smooth: portion 8 of the bolt, and is freely rotatable' relative tothe bolt, this sleevebeing` provided 'With supporting and clamping flanges 9 and 10 respectively. These flanges are'disposed Vat substantially right angles to eachother, the flange 9 being' arrangedto engage thel edge ofthe display B, whereas the flange 10 "engages the face `of the display,` or overlaps the edges of the mounting frame thereof.

For assuring properengagementrbetween the flanges andthe display B, there is provided interiorly of the sleeve '7 and substantially midway of the fiange 9, an annular extension ll which engages the smooth shank ofthe bolt 8, the eX- tension 11 being rounded so that the sleeve '7 may freely rock on the smooth shank of bolt 8, thereby enabling the iiange l0 to firmly grip the display B regardless of any irregularities in the supporting surface A or in the anchorage of the parts 1 and 2 Within the supporting part A.

For protecting the finish of the display B there may be provided a cushion 12, for encompassing the flange 10, Figure 5, formed of rubber or other cushioning material, which serves to protect the surface of the displays against marring contact with the flange 10 and also serves to protect thesurface of the display from damage whenthe clamping device is being removed from its position on the support.

In order to secure the flange 9 to the edge of the display B, the flange may be provided with a pair of holes 13 and 14 for the reception of screws `15, or equivalentsecuring devices. One of these holes, 'illustrated as hole 13, may be countersunk in the flang' 9', whereas the other hole is not so counter-sunk.:

ItY Will therefore be apparent that by means of the device of this invention, there is provided an anchoring kmeans for displays `which are securelyY heldin position. relative to a suitable-support,`whi1e at thesanie time enabling ready removal'of the display Without a likelihood of damage `or injury thereto. In addition tok facilitating proper alignment lto the edge of the display frame, the extension 11 above mentioned rests on the bolt` and transmits' the load on the bolt closer to the VWall than'would otherwise be the case.

While the inventionA has-beenrillustrated in connection YWith anchoring devices of the nature of those describedand claimed in the aforesaid Flora patent, it 'is obvious that the clamping member ymay be'employe'd in' connection with any.v other securing means which may be desirably employed. Since the sleeve 'l is freely rotatable around the bolt 8, it i's engageable with the"dis'play`in anydesired position of adjustment, 'Wh'ich, together with the longitudinal rocking" action around` the 'extension 11 allows a universaladjustmentof the clamp 'with respect to the. dis'playl Since thefflange lOvlies flatly alongv the edge of the display orthe frame thereof, no damage to the. appearance of the display will result. The provision` of the holes 13 and 14 in the flange 9 enables. the insertion of securing devices for preventing displacement` of the display laterally of the-clamp. The free rotation of the clamp relaltive tothe securing member 4 enables the display to'be handled with great ease both for its placemer'it` and its removal, it being only necessary to insert the securing member 4 into the wall A for/a sufficient distance to support Ythe weight of the display, adjust the flange 9 of the clamps by turning the clamps so that the flanges will Iiiatly engage the respective edges of the display, and the clamp then automatically adjusts itself to the-display. By manipulation of the securing member 4- the clamp may then be tightened and the flange 10, overlapping the edge of the display B, clamps the display against the Wall A. Conversely, -to remove the display, the securing member 4 is loosened by suitable application of a tool until there is sufficient play between the clamp and display to enable the latter to be removed. The use of Vthe fastening member 15 is largely optional.

It vvill be understood, of course, also, that While the backing A for the display B has been described specifically as a concrete wall, obviously it may be of any other character.

Having thus described my invention, what I or., .le

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, cooperating members forming anchoring instrumentalities, and hollow means carried by one of the members for supporting a display or the like, the said means forming clamping instrumentalities for the display when in service, and being provided with internally projecting means for enabling alignment of the clamping instrumentalities with the display for closely engaging the clamping instrumentalities with the said display for clamping the same to a support.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, cooperating members forming anchoring instrumentalities, and means carried by one of the members for supporting a display or the like, and forming clamping instrumentalities for the display when in service, the said means comprising a sleeve surrounding one of the cooperating members, flanges for engaging an edge and face of the display, and means within the sleeve for enabling the said sleeve to align itself with the display device for firmly clamping the same to a support irrespective of any unevenness between the clamping instrumentalities and support, the said aligning means comprising an inwardly projecting extension engaging the said cooperating member enclosed by the sleeve for enabling the sleeve to rock upon the said member.

3. A device of the character described. comprising, in combination, cooperating members forming anchoring instrumentalities, and means carried by one of the members for supporting a display or the like and forming clamping instrumentalities for the display when in service, the said means comprising a sleeve surrounding one of the said cooperating members, the said sleeve being provided with a flange adapted to engage an edge of the display and having openings therethrough for the reception of securing means, one of the said openings being countersunk within the flange, a second ange extending at substantially right angles to the flange aforesaid and adapted to engage a face of the display for clamping the same to a support, and cushioning means surrounding the said second flange for protecting the said face of the display from injury by engagement of the flange therewith.

4. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, a securing member and a clamping member mounted on the securing member and universally adjustable relative thereto, the said clamping member being adapted to clamp a display or the like in position on a backing structure, the said securing member being adapted to enter into the backing structure for sustaining the weight of the display upon application of driving force to the said securing member, the said clamping member being provided with instrumentalities for flatly engaging an edge of the display and for overlapping the said edge respectively, whereby the securing member is maintained out of direct engagement with the display.

5. A device of the character described, cornprising, in combination, a securing member and a clamping member mounted on the securing member for clamping a display or the like to a backing structure upon the securing member being attached to the backing structure, the said clamping member being provided with a pair of angularly disposed anges, one of the said flanges being Vadapted to flatly engage an edge of the display and adapted to be secured thereto, the other flange being adapted to overlap the said edge and to clamp the said display to the backing structure, and means enabling universal adjustment of the clamping member relative to the display and securing member for enabling the clamping member to adjust itself to the said display in any desired position of adjustment.

6. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, cooperating members forming anchoring instrumentalities, means carried by one of the members forming supporting and clamping instrumentalities for a display when in service, the said means comprising a sleeve surrounding one of the members, a ilange on the sleeve extending outwardly therefrom for clampingly engaging a face of the display, a second ange on the sleeve extending therefrom substantially at right angles to the rst mentioned ange for supporting engagement with an edge of the display, and an internally projecting rounded extension on the inner surface of the sleeve for enabling the sleeve to rock on its anchoring member to enable at least one of said flanges to more completely engage the said face and edge of the display irrespective of any irregularities thereof.

'7. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, cooperating members forming anchoring instrumentalities, meansicarried by one of the members forming supporting and clamping instrumentalities for a display when in service, the said means comprising a sleeve surrounding one of the members, the said sleeve being provided with a portion adapted to support an edge of the display, a flange on the sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom for clampingly engaging a vertical face of the display, and an internally projecting extension on the inner surface of the sleeve for enabling the sleeve to rock on its anchoring member to enable the said flange to more completely engage the said face of the display irrespective of any irregularities thereof.

8. In combination with a securing device including a split sleeve and a means for spreading said sleeve into engagement with a retaining surface, a holding device mounted on said means and being rockable relatively thereto, and surfaces on said holding device for engagingthe member to be held in at least two zones.

9. In combination with an anchoring device including a split sleeve and a bolt, a member for receiving and supporting a portion of a display board or the like, which includes a body portion mounted on and supported by said bolt, surfaces integral with said body portion for receiving and embracing surfaces of the display board in at least two zones, said body portion and said bolt being relatively movable to obtain a maximum area of contact between the surfaces integral with the body portion and the surfaces of the display board with which said surfaces cooperate.

GEORGE R. FLORA. 

